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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page essay on John O'Hara's short story "A Phase of Life," which deals with how Tom, a recovering drug addict, deals with his addiction and how it affects his relationships. Additionally, the writer argues that O'Hara implies that Tom will again return to his drug-addicted lifestyle. No bibliography is offered.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khjhapof.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
II period, was very attractive and very difficult to dismiss once a person had experienced it. John OHaras short story "A Phase of Life" deals with how Tom, a
recovering drug addict, deals with his addiction and how it affects his relationships. But while, Tom appears to be clean (that is, drug free), OHara makes it clear that
this is largely a front, that is, a masquerade that Tom is enacting for the sake of his girlfriend. Additionally, OHara implies that Tom will again return to his
drug-addicted lifestyle. From the beginning of the story, it is clear that there is something wrong with Tom. His clothes are a mess and he has lost considerable weight
(35). OHara writes that Toms gaze has the "fixed brightness of a man who had had a permanent scare" (35). Toms girlfriend, Honey, is also in the room where
he is playing the piano. There are signs that Tom has been drinking heavily. He stops playing and talks with enthusiasm about his past life. The reader learns that
Tom was once a successful musician. He played in nightclubs where he earned $300 a week, which was an excellent salary for that era. Tom remembers fondly the tuxedos that
he used to own and wear while he was working. The fact that Tom wore a tuxedo while performing suggests that he played at the best places. The reader
also learns that Tom was on "junk" (37), which is 1950-60s slang for heroin. OHaras heavy use of out-dated slang frequently makes the story difficult to follow. This slang, plus
other references, indicates that the story is set in the 1950s. Tom recalls the songs he used to play, and Honey remembers the sequin dress that she wore on the
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